Metallurgical furnace with cartridge clay gun means

ABSTRACT

A clay gun cylinder having a pair of complementary half sections, one of which is pivotal for opening and closing the cylinder. A clay containing cartridge is fed into the opened cylinder and coaxially aligned with the cylinder piston. The cartridge has a plug at one end engageable by the piston for discharging material from the cartridge.

United States Patent Berczynski [4 1 Aug. 8, 1972 [S4] METALLURGICAL FURNACE WITH [56] References Cited (:AR L I 3E CLAY GUN MEANS UNITED STATES PATENTS I 1 Frank 1,555,711 9/1925 Hershinger ..222/327 [72] N Y A wlnamsvme 2,338,607 1/1944 Wacker ..264/328 3,072,980 1/ 1963 Ewing ..164/298 2,169,604 8/1939 Fraser et a1 ..266/42 [73] Assignee: A. E. Anderson Construction Cor- 1 Buffalo, NY? Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Christel & Bean [22]. Filed: Oct. 21, 1970 ABSTRACT 21 L N 82,678 A clay gun cylinder having a pair of complementary half sections, one of which is pivotal for opening and closing the cylinder. A clay containing cartridge is fed 52 U.S.C1. ..266/24, 266/42 into the Opened cylinder and cwially aligned with 511 hie-cl. ..C21b 7/12 the cylinder Pismncartridge? a P F [58] Field 0 SearchM266/42 24; 264/328 DIG. 64 end engageable by the piston for discharging material 264/DIG. 65', 222/327; 18/30 QM, 30 OZ, 12 P from the cartridge.

3 Claim, 8 Drawing Figures PMETED 8 I972 3,682,456

SHEET 3 OF 3 ATT RNEYS,

METALLURGICAL FURNACE WITH CARTRIDGE CLAY GUN MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to clay or mud guns particularly a adapted for plugging the tap holes of metallurgical furnaces.

It is well known to employ clay or mud guns for plugging tap holes in metallurgical furnaces to arrest the flow of molten metal or slag therefrom. These guns are generally provided with cylinders having a piston therein for forcing clay through a nozzle into the hole against the hot flowing metal which bakes the clay, thereby forming a solid plug in the fumace wall. The clay gun is generally swung from a crane or other suitable means for positioning the gun in the tap hole when in use and for moving it out of the way when not in use to permit other operations in connection with the furnace. The clay gun is commonly charged with bulk clay inserted in an opening in the top of the cylinder and the opening can be closed by a hinged closure plate. Known clay guns were designed to handle the relatively wet, plastic, readily extrudable materials previously used. They possess certain disadvantages when used with todays clay materials which have a dryer, stiffer consistency requiring greater force to discharge the clay material through the nozzle. Also, the clay tends to bake in the gun requiring frequent and laborious cleaning operations. Sometimes, portions of the clay material leak past the piston into the piston drive mechanism causing considerable strain and wear on such drive mechanism thereby reducing the useful life of the gun.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved clay gun and a clay containing cartridge arrangement obviating the above-noted disadvantages.

It is another object of this invention to provide a gun with a cylinder of a construction facilitating the loading of cartridges therein, and also facilitating cleaning of the gun.

In one aspect thereof, a clay gun of the present invention is characterized by the provision of a gun barrel or cylinder comprised of a pair of complementary half sections, one of which is pivotable for opening and closing the cylinder. A clay containing cartridge is fed into the opened cylinder and is coaxially aligned with the cylinder piston so that in operation with the cylinder closed, the piston extrudes the clay from the cartridge without contacting the cylinder wall. After use, the spent cartridge is removed leaving the cylinder free of any baked, accumulated clay therein.

The foregoing and other objects, advantages and characterizing features of the present invention will become clearly apparent from the ensuing detailed description of an illustrative embodiment thereof, taken together with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference characters denote like parts throughout the various views.

. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a clay gun of the present invention shown in operative position relative to a furnace and runner trough shown in section;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the structure of FIG. 1 showing the furnace in section;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view, partially in section, on an enlarged scale, showing the gun in open position at the loading station;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken about on line 4--4 of FIG. 3 and showing the cartridge feed mechanism; 7

FIG. 5 is a vertical cross sectional view of the clay gun in closed position, encircling and enclosing a clay containing cartridge;

FIG. 6 is a bottom plan view of the clay gun looking in the direction of arrows 66 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a horizontal sectional view taken about on line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a clay containing cartridge of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now in detail to the drawings, there is shown in FIG. 1 a clay gun, generally designated 10 and constructed in accordance with this invention, mounted on a carrier 12 for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis by trunnion l4. Carrier 12 is rotatably mounted on a carriage 16 for rotation in a generally horizontal plane about a generally vertical shaft 18 (FIG. 3). Carriage 16 is provided with rollers 20 at the upper end thereof which ride on guide tracks 22 suspended from structural beams 23 by means of girders 24. Thus, gun 10 can be moved along tracks 22 between an operative position of use as shown in full lines in FIG. 1 and a remote out of the way position at a loading station as shown in phantom in FIG. 1.

Gun 10 is adapted to dispense clay material into a tapped opening 25 in a metallurgical furnace 26 to arrest the flow of molten metal therefrom into the runner trough 28 which receives the discharged molten metal and conveys it to a remote collection station. It should be understood that a plurality of troughs 28 leading to various collection stations can be provided.

Gun 10 comprises a gun barrel or cylinder 30 formed of complementary upper and lower half sections 32 and 34, of substantially semicircular, trough shape in cross section (FIG. 4) which when closed in face-to-face abutting relation as shown in FIG. 5, enclose and form a cylindrical material carrying bore. This split section construction of cylinder 30 is an important feature of the present invention enabling quick and efficient loading of clay containing cartridges into cylinder 30 and the ready removal of spent cartridges therefrom as described hereafter.

Section 32 is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced lugs 36 along one longitudinal edge thereof disposed between paired lugs 38 and 40 projecting from the other section 34, each of said lugs having aligned openings for receiving pins 42 therein. Thus, section 32 is pivotally mounted for movement into opened and closed positions. The other longitudinal edge of section 32 is provided with longitudinally spaced lugs 44 adapted to fit between paired lugs 46 and 48 projecting from section 34. Each of said lugs are provided with openings for receiving bolts 50 therein (FIGS. 5 and 6) threaded into tapped openings in lugs 46 for releasably securing sections 32 and 34 together. The mating edges of sections 32 and 34 have complementary beveled edges as shown at 51, 51' in FIGS. 4 and 5 to insure a tight connection therebetween. An

eye bolt 52 is provided on the outer surface of section 32 for facilitating the opening and closing of the same.

A tapered nozzle 54 is secured, by any suitable means, to the forward end of cylinder 30. The bore of nozzle 54 is provided with an abutment shoulder 56 for a reason which will become apparent. The rearward end of cylinder 30 terminates in an annular flange 58 secured to the forward end of a housing 60 by suitable fasteners 62.

Cylinder 30 is provided with a piston 64 connected to a threaded piston rod 66 extending rearwardly into housing 60 and operatively connected to a drive mechanism (not shown) located in housing 60. The means for reciprocating piston rod 66 can be conventional and, per se, form no part of the present invention. Reference may be had to US. Pat. Nos. 1,852,560, 1,852,562 and 1,881,479 to illustrate various drive mechanisms that can be incorporated in the present invention to impart reciprocating axial movement to piston 64 while restraining rotational movement thereof relative to cylinder 30. A motor 68 (FIG. 1) connected to a suitable source of power (not shown) is mounted on housing 60 for driving the drive mechanism in a suitable manner to impart reciprocating movement to piston 64.

A significant feature of the present invention is the utilization of clay materials confined in cartridges, generally designated 70, which are individually fed into cylinder 30 at a loading station 72. Cartridge 70 comprises a hollow cylindrical container body 74 having an outside diameter of slightly less than the inside diameter of cylinder 30 to facilitate gravity feed of the cartridge into the gun barrel. Container body 74 is closed at its forward end by an end wall 76 having an outturned, curved peripheral flange rolled into sealing relation with an annular head 78 forming a continuation of container body 74 and disposed at the forward end thereof. The other end of container body 74 is closed by a cup-shaped piston plug 80 having a circular end wall 82 and a hollow cylindrical side wall 84. The outside diameter of side wall 84 is of a dimension to snugly fit within container body 74 in sealing engagement therewith while the inside diameter of side wall 84 is slightly larger than the outside diameter of piston 64 to accommodate the same therein.

Container body 74 including end wall 76 preferably are formed of an inexpensive, impervious paper or cardboard material, such as aluminized cardboard wrapped in a heavy grade plastic such as cellophane for example, to retain moisture within the clay material. Plug 80 is preferably formed of a light, inexpensive metal, such as tin, to provide a relatively rigid piston seal.

Means are provided at loading station 72 for feeding successive cartridges 70 individually into cylinder 60. As shown in FIG. 4, such means comprise a magazine having a pair of laterally spaced, inclined guide rails 86 for supporting cartridges 70 in a stacked relation. A pair of spaced stop mechanisms, generally designated 88, are disposed on rail 86 for restraining the two lowermost cartridges 70 and are operable to independently release the same as hereinafter described. The other stored cartridges 70 merely rest against the adjacent lower cartridge and are gravity fed along rails 86. Each rail 86 is provided with a lip 87 at its lower end adapted to engage and overlie the beveled edge 51 of section 34 when gun 10 is disposed at the loading station 72.

Each stop mechanism 88 comprises a latch member 90 having an arcuate depression 92 generally conforming to the peripheral shape of cartridge and pivotally mounted on rail 86 by means of a pivot shaft 94. An actuating lever 96 having a cam surface 98 engageable with the underside of latch is rigidly secured to a rotatable shaft 100 for swinging movement into and out of a latch engaging position. A gear segment 102 is mounted on shaft 100 and is engageable with a drive gear 104 mounted on shaft 106 journalled for rotation in a bracket 108 depending from rail 86. Shafts 106 are rotated by suitable drive means such as electric motors (not shown) connected to a control console 110 by means of lines 112. Each stop mechanism is provided with three control buttons 114, 116 and 118 for selectively releasing the associated latch, holding it in the released position, and for activating the associated latch into closed, latched position, respectively.

As schematically shown in FIG. 2, console 110 is connected to gun 10 by means of a control cable 115, 117 and junction 119 and also includes actuating buttons 120, 122, 124, and 126 for operating motors 68, 128, 130 and 132 for controlling movement of piston 64, the angular adjustment of gun 10 about trunnion 14, the swiveling movement of carrier 12 relative to carriage 16, and the movement of carriage 16 on tracks 22, respectively. Motors 128, 130 and 132 are schematically shown in FIG. 1. Since the specific motors and gearing arrangements for effecting the above movements can be conventional, and per se form no part of this invention, no further amplification or description thereof is believed necessary.

In the operation of the present invention, a cartridge 70 is fed into the open cylinder 30 of gun 10 at loading station 72 by depressing button 114 for rotating the right, lower actuating lever 96 (FIG. 4) in a clockwise direction allowing latch 90 to be released by the weight of the lowermost cartridge 70. After the lowermost cartridge 70 is released, lever 96 is actuated by depressing button 118 to move latch 90 into its original restraining position. The left end stop mechanism 88 is then actuated to release its cartridge 70 onto the lower stop mechanism in readiness for a subsequent loading operation and receives another cartridge 70 from the stacked supply. An attendant located at the loading station, checks to insure that cartridge 70 is properly positioned within section 34 with bead 78 against abutment shoulder 56 and then closes section 32 about the cartridge and secures sections 32 and 34 together by means of bolts 50. To facilitate the discharge of the clay material through end wall 76, the attendant can cut a cross slit in end wall 76 as shown at 77 in FIG. 8 prior to releasing the lowermost latch 90. Alternatively, the slits 77 can be cut into end wall 76 prior to loading cartridges 70 on rails 86. Carriage 16 is then moved along tracks 22 from loading station 72 toward opening 25 in furnace 26. Gun 10 is then manipulated about shaft 18 and trunnion 14 to insert nozzle 54 into opening 25.

Actuating button is then depressed to energize motor 68 and the drive mechanism in housing 60 to impart movement to piston 64. As shown in FIG. 7, piston 64 engages plug 80 and drives the same toward nozzle 54 to force the clay material through cartridge 70. The pressure exerted by the clay material ruptures end wall 76 (FIG. 7) portions of which are urged against the inner wall of nozzle 54. Container body 74 of cartridge 70 fits closely within the gun barrel and is restrained against rupture by the thick wall of cylinder 30 and thereby kept intact. The clay material issuing from nozzle 54 into opening 25 engages the hot flowing metal and is baked thereby to form a solid plug in the furnace wall for arresting the flow of the molten metal. It should be understood that tracks 22 can be arranged about furnace 26 in such a manner that a plurality of tapped openings in furnace 26 can be successively plugged by gun 10, as required.

After the plugging operation, gun 10 is moved along tracks 22 to the unloading position shown in phantom in FIG. 1 and at the left end in FIG. 2. Bolts 50 are removed and section 32 is swung to the open position for removing the spent cartridge 70 and cleaning gun 10. By utilizing pre-packaged cartridges, the barrel or cylinder 30 of gun 10 is kept clean and it is only necessary to clean nozzle 54 and remove any residual baked clay clinging to the inner surface thereof. Also, access to the inner bore of nozzle 54 can be made through the opening in cylinder 30 provided by hinged section 32, thereby facilitating the cleaning operation.

After gun 10 is cleaned, it is swung about vertical shaft 18 to the loading position shown in full lines in FIG. 2 whereby the loading operations can be repeated. It should be appreciated that cartridges 70 are bulky and difficult to handle manually. By way of illustration, a typical cartridge encloses a space of approximately 9 cubic feed and the preferred clay material weighs approximately 200 lb. per cubic feet thereby causing the loaded cartridge to weigh approximately 1,800 lb. This specific weight and volume is illustrative only and various sized cartridges having difierent densities can be utilized, as desired, dependent on the particular application. Of course, the size of cylinder 30 and piston 64 would vary accordingly. Cartridges 70 are delivered to guide rails 86 by any suitable loading mechanism.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that the objects of the present invention have been fully accomplished. As a result of this invention, an improved clay gun utilizing clay containing cartridges is provided for plugging tapped openings in furnace walls in an improved and more efiicient manner. By utilizing cartridges, the loading and cleaning of the clay gun can be quickly and efficiently performed. Also, the clay material can be prepared at an off-site location to obtain a uniform and better consistency and the cartridge provides an accurately measured quantity of clay. By the provision of a piston type plug seal in the cartridge, leakage of clay material into the cylinder and past the cylinder piston is precluded thereby avoiding damage to the drive mechanism for the piston.

A preferred embodiment of this invention having been disclosed in detail, it is to be understood that this has been done by way of illustration only.

I claim:

1. In combination with a metallurgical furnace having an opening to be tapped and plugged, a clay gun adapted to dispense clay material into the tapped openas arkt yisttr arstzs ttrss w e kasas gt a clay material to be dispensed, a discharge nozzle, and a piston movable in said cylinder to discharge the contents of a cartridge therein through said nozzle, means mounting said gun for movement between a position of use adjacent said furnace and a loading position adjacent a loading station, said loading station including means to hold a supply of cartridges and means at said loading station for feeding a cartridge from said supply thereof into said cylinder when said gun is in said loading position.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cylinder comprises a pair of split sections forming a bore therethrough when engaged, means pivotally mounting one of said sections for swinging movement relative to the other section into open and closed positions, and means releasably securing, said sections together in said closed position, said piston being mounted in said cylinder for reciprocating movement in said bore relative to said cylinder.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises a gravity feed magazine for storing cartridges in a stacked relation, means for releasably retaining cartridges in said magazine, and means for releasing the lowerrnort cartridge into said cylinder when opened.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 QER'MMCATE 0F CQRREQHGN Patent No. 316821456 Dated August 8, 1972 Inventor-(s) Frank A0 BerCZynSki It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said'Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

[73] Assignee: Andco Incorporated, Buffalo, NJYa Column 6, line 36 after "securing" the comma should be deleted Column 6, line 4-4 "lowermort" should be '--lowermost- Signed and sealed this 23rd day of April 1971 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER JR. G, MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM HO'SQ) uscoMM-Dc wan-Pee .5. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE! [959 0-365-334 

1. In combination with a metallurgical furnace having an opening to be tapped and plugged, a clay gun adapted to dispense clay material into the tapped opening for plugging the same and including a longitudinally sectioned cylinder adapted to receive a cartridge of clay material to be dispensed, a discharge nozzle, and a piston movable in said cylinder to discharge the contents of a cartridge therein through said nozzle, means mounting said gun for movement between a position of use adjacent said furnace and a loading position adjacent a loading station, said loading station including means to hold a supply of cartridges and means at said loading station for feeding a cartridge from said supply thereof into said cylinder when said gun is in said loading position.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said cylinder comprises a pair of split sections forming a bore therethrough when engaged, means pivotally mounting one of said sections for swinging movement relative to the other section into open and closed positions, and means releasably securing, said sections together in said closed position, said piston being mounted in said cylinder for reciprocating movement in said bore relative to said cylinder.
 3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said feeding means comprises a gravity feed magazine for storing cartridges in a stacked relation, means for releasably retaining cartridges in said magazine, and means for releasing the lowermort cartridge into said cylinder when opened. 